Judge rules for city in Suher license case

NORTHAMPTON — The city continues its effort to have business owner Eric Suher return a revoked liquor license for a Center Street property.

Hampshire Superior Court Judge Bertha D. Josephson Monday granted a request from the city to allow a sheriff to leave a summons for Suher at his Holyoke office even if he is not present to receive it.

Northampton and its License Commission filed suit against Suher seeking return of the liquor license for 26-28 Center St. when it remained unused five years after it was issued. The License Commission voted to revoke that license in May.

The suit was filed June 19 claiming that after three letters and a phone call, the license had not been returned to the city. The suit seeks return of the license and reimbursement to the city for its legal costs.

A message left for Suher at his office was not returned. Suher did not appear in court Monday.

“It’s very common when licenses are suspended or revoked that they be turned in,” Northampton City Solicitor Alan Seewald said after Monday’s hearing. “That’s what we’re asking.”

Seewald said he spoke with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department last week which informed him the summons must be left with Suher himself, and not with anyone else in his office at 47 Jackson St., Holyoke.

Josephson’s ruling allows the Sheriff’s Department to leave the summons at Suher’s office, even if he is not there to accept it personally, Seewald said.

When asked if there has been any response from Suher, Seewald said he and the city “haven’t heard a word.”